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wo THE SUNDAY OREGONIAX, PORTLAND. JULY 7, 1912. IS In Gentle Art of Slamming Out a Safe One, Bringing in a Needed Run at a Game's Critical Point, No Big Leaguer Excels Joseph. Bert Tinker, the Star Shortstop of the Chicago Cuhs. Using W. E. Whiston as His QuilUwielder He Gives Some Interesting Side- lights on This Angle of the Na- tional Sport. Joseph Bert Tinker, star even a double. But It simply goes to of the Chicago Cubs, show that while nearly every other WHEN team in the league would dodge Wag first 'made his debut in big ner on account of his reputation as a league company, back In 1901. It was Dinch hitter. 'Chicago would rather sold me to Hagen's Tailors for the $3. that someone immediately took up a primarily due to the fact that he had have him than Clarke, who, while an I stayed with them a year and then collection which netted me $8.50. gained a reputation as a player, who excellent player, doesn't appeal to the started out with the J. F. Schmelzer "John Grimm, of the Portland Pacifle average fan as so much of a foe as team, representing a sporting goods Northwest League, signed me up. My was nearly always good for a safe hit in City. game's point. He could Wagner would be. house Kansas work at third for that team attracted at a critical "A man doesn't have to be a fan or "Johnny Kllng, who afterward be- the attention of the scouts for the Cubs, be depended on to smash out a hard an expert to know that no player can came a catcher in the big league, and and in the Fall of 1901 I signed, with drive in the hour of his team's most be expected to hit a ball every time he who has often been termed the peer of Chicago. Frank G. Seeley, who was urgent need, and this faculty he has comes to bat. If he did baseball proD all catchers, was also with this team. handling the Chicago team at that time, retained ever since. Wherever base ably wouldn't be as interesting a sport About the middle of the season Claude dnclded that he couldn't use me at now. isveryooay nas ms own East to whom, by the way, I owe my third, and to him I owe my chance at ball is played Tinker is known as one as It is league ever opinion as to who he thinks is the best chance for making the big shortstop, in which position my friends of the ablest pinch hitters that pinch hitter. For myself, I consider picked up a team to represent Parsons, have been pleased to say that I have wielded a willow. Fred Clarke the most dangerous man Kan., a town which Is really on the done fairly well. The fans are always on tiptoe with in a pinch: Larry Doyle, too, of the New map. We played on the "During, the past three Winters I anticipation when they see his stocky Yorks, is considered a hard proposition plan, share-and-sha- re alike. The usual have been playing in vaudeville, and figure ambling toward the plate, espe. for a pitcher in a pinch. Roger Hres division was about $1.25 for each man while I feel pretty much at home on on nahan, of St. Louis Is another who most per game. the stage now, I had an awful time at daily when there's a man or two "If it rained on Saturday and Sunday footlights. bases and Chicago needs a run to tie any pitcher In the league hates to see first getting used to the at the plate when a hit is needea. most of us would have to go hungry When I first went into the show busi- the score. And it's seldom that Tinker "I might go on and mention 30 or 40 during the week. One day we got a ness I started with another ball player. disappoints. players who, against different teams game with a team located in a town We had intended doing a banjo act. We I found that Tinker himself was and different pitchers, are Al pinch about 20 miles from Parsons. We wired went to a little town Just out of Chi- - prone to disclaim any unusual ability men. While on the other hand these the manager that he would have to cago to smooth out the act before open- as a batsman who could be depended same players, when pitted against a send $11 to defray traveling expenses. ing in the city. on to pull his team out of a tight hole different team and a different pitcher, He wired it all right. And when the "The owner, manager, stage manager, ' when I talked with him during the re are considered nothing out of the ordi bunch saw that bank roll, which in ticket taker and seller was as fine a cent series Between the Cubs and Mc- - nary. those days looked pretty large, they specimen of a rube as one would wish New Polo ' decided that we would beat it on a to meet. During the afternoon per- Graw's Giants on the York freight and split the Grounds. Tinker prefers to play the "Perhaps the worst fall down in my train til. formance my partner, who was a rather game to publication, ana "About 10 miles out a brakeman put small fellow, caught his foot In the talking for career as a pinch hitter or at least the us off, and then and there the Parsons when I asked him to reveal the secrets one always with a rung of his chair and landed on his of pinch ball he laughed. that I remember team disbanded for life. head in th,e orchestra pit. "Why. nothing to It," he de deep feeling of chagrin occurred two I went to Coffeyville, Kan., where "'Luckily he wasn't badly hurt, and there's years ago . with one could Imagine, re- clared. all a matter of chance in the world's series generally term a pinch hit So you wll expression, that Johnson, who Is now pitching such a after the evening performance, which "It's Philadelphia at Chicago. It proved to any player, some plied: . star game for the Senators, was hold- and luck. Besides, a man who may game. men on see that almost at " went off smoothly, the manager came be a crackerjaek pinch against be the last With three time or another, is bound to get a hit 'I don't smoke.' ing down the mound. I was made cap- to us and, in a voice was meant to hitter bases and no outs. Coombs struck me "On another occasion Wlltse was tain, In a games that one team is just as likely to be abso- at the psychological moment. time and series of three be harsh, said: "Don't you fellows know out. I don t believe I will ever get "No doubt the situation at the time pitching for the Giants. The first against the Kansas City Blues of the regulations of house?" lutely worthless against another. always up got three-bagge- r, which landed the rules and this all depends on whether he is feel over that incident, for It will the player goes to bat has a lot to do I a American Association I made seven hits. I told him that I thought we did. "Then." "It make me think that If I had got a sin- In right over in SI Seymour's territory. "At the close of the season I was ing fit that particular day, or whether Chicago with his feelings, regardless of the counted for two bags, said he, 'what do you mean by cutting ele- gle little hit at that time structions he may receive when he filled the three corners ar proportion- The next one recommended to George Tebeau, who your the pitcher isn't. Then, again, the might champions for and the third, a home run, made Si trav- act? I've a good mind to fine you ment of luck plays a big part. A ball have been the that leaves the bench. When I face a pitcher ately few. we had the Denver team, joining them in each five dollars,' occa- year. Of course that one game wouian i a good I often try country el nearly out to the fence. When the Spring of 1900. I had always played that he'd miss by a mile on one and we have lead "Fans all over the remember were changing positions Si said: "Not wishing to lose two dollars have done it, but It would nave given some spot. York-Chicag- third base, put me on sec- sion may fit right into his bat on an- to place the ball In certain New o series of 1908. and Tebeau more than we were getting, I tried to goes. us a chance to play another game, and we men on a the "'If you played against New York ond. The was I was re- other. And that's the way it Chi- whereas if have bases and series. At the you be result that smooth things over, and asked him player, as he as baseball is a game of chance, means a run simply do the best Just before the world's all the time probably would leased. "For instance," said the cago won hit I game of series something hap- batting 1000.